Canine Health Foundation Grant #01312

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCPD) is a debilitating developmental disease that affects small breeds of dog, particularly terrier breeds. The only outward indications of this condition are pain, lameness, and muscle atrophy of the hip joint. These signs are not exclusive to LCPD, and are often attributed to minor trauma during the early stages of disease. LCPD is primarily diagnosed by radiographic changes of the femoral head within the hip joint. Due to the developmental nature and the unknown etiology of the disease, LCPD is difficult to predict and prevent. No disease mapping strategies have been employed to date. Objective: This study is using the Affymetrix canine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip to identify regions that are linked to LCPD in the West Highland White Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, and Miniature Pinscher breeds.